Pest guard vent cover

ABSTRACT

A pest guard vent cover may prevent the entry of large insects and animals into, but not obstruct the flow out of, the exhaust vent. A frame may have a rain guard, which terminates in pivot slots. A guard basket is pivotally and removably mounted within the pivot slots, so that it may pivot out and away from the frame for easy cleaning of dryer fluff. It may also be pivoted down towards the frame and attached to the frame by means of latches having angled flanges, which flanges catch the basket and releasably hold it against the frame.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to venting and specifically to a pest guard cover that fits over an external wall vent.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Vents are required in buildings to permit air exchange with the outside for dryers, bathroom and kitchen fans, and heating and cooling, among other reasons. Vents, as access points to the building, must be restricted to prevent the entry of animals and other pests that may inhabit a vent, or further use the vent as access to infest a building. Traditionally, pest guards in the form of wire screening have been used to effectively keep animals out, however they are difficult to maintain.

Some attempts to address this problem have been made in the prior art, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,916,023 (Meyer), where a hooded exhaust vent includes a grid-like guard which is removable but must be awkwardly maneuvered into the vent hood where it is attached by means of projections. The projections may also break off in the course of removing the guard. This hooded vent also deflects the exhaust vent air downward, which reduces the efficiency of the vent and may create a backpressure.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,147,554 (Berger) describes a hooded exhaust vent, and attempts to remedy some of the shortcomings of Meyer, through the use of a sliding track and projections for the replacement of a guard. It may be difficult in the cold, with cold hands to remove the guard that is attached by means of projections or a rail, in that it may be difficult to maneuver the guard into position. Further, since the guard is totally removable it may fall into the snow and become lost. Accordingly, there is a need for a guard that prevents the entry of pests, is easy to clean but overcomes some of the shortcomings found in the prior art to address these needs. Furthermore, this design also has the shortcoming of deflecting the exhaust vent air downward, which reduces the efficiency of the vent and may create a backpressure.

In Canadian Patent Application No. 2,330,821, a vent assembly is shown which prevents the entry of animals but permits rain to enter the exhaust vent structure. Snow may clog the vents of this vent assembly by falling on top of the upper grille and/or partially melting and falling through to block the lower grille.

Accordingly, there is a need for a pest guard which prevents the entry of animals but does not obstruct the flow of the exhaust vent, and is reliable and easy to maintain.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention include a pest guard vent cover which prevents the entry of large insects and animals into, but does not obstruct the flow out of, an exhaust vent. A frame may have a rain guard, which terminates in pivot slots. A guard basket is pivotally and removably mounted within the pivot slots, so that it may pivot out and away from the frame for easy cleaning of dryer fluff. A pull handle mounted on the lower portion of the guard basket facilitates pulling it out and up from the frame. The guard basket may also be pivoted down towards the frame and attached to the frame by means of latches having angled flanges, which flanges catch the basket, and releasably hold it against the frame. The alignment of the basket to the frame is facilitated by the use of alignment tabs mounted on the basket. The frame has a surrounding lip surface to enable it to sealingly engage the exterior of the wall to which it is mounted by means of screws. The pest guard may be made from molded plastic, metal or other materials.

A pest guard cover for an external wall vent, arranged to be mounted over an existing exhaust vent cover and vent louvers, may include a rectangular frame; a rain shield projecting from the frame, in a downward-sloping inclination; a guard basket having a plurality of perforations forming a grid, providing sufficient clearance for the vent louvers to open; and a hinge between the rain shield and the guard basket so as to permit the guard basket to be pivoted between the frame and rain shield; wherein the frame is affixed over the exhaust vent cover, and the guard basket pivotally hangs from the rain shield by the hinge. The hinge may include one or more pivot members; and one or more pivot slots wherein the pivot members are inserted into the pivot slots so as to be capable of pivoting. The pest guard vent cover may include a first latch and a second latch projecting from the frame; and one or more perforations in the guard basket wherein the first and second latches with and releasably lock within the perforations. The guard basket may have one or more alignment tabs. The guard basket may have a pull handle. The rectangular frame may have apertures to allow for the rectangular frame to be attached to a building.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

It will now be convenient to describe the invention with particular reference to one embodiment of the present invention. It will be appreciated that the diagrams relate to one embodiment of the present invention only and are not to be taken as limiting the invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a frame used in a Universal Pest guard according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 2 a and 2 b are perspective views of the front and back of a pest guard cover used in a Universal Pest guard according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a Universal Pest Guard Cover, shown with the guard raised, according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the Pest Guard Cover, shown with the guard lowered, according to one embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is a rear view of the Pest Guard Cover, shown with the guard in place, according to one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.

With reference to FIG. 1, a rectangular frame 10 for a universal pest guard vent cover is shown having a rain shield 15 with pivot slots 20 located at the extremity of the rain shield 15. The pivot slots 20 are to receive pivot members (not shown) attached to a guard basket (not shown) to form a hinge (not shown) and the resulting hinge allows for the movement of the guard basket. The frame 10 also has latches 30 extending away from frame 10 and these latches 30 interconnect with the guard basket (not shown). The latches 30 have angled flanges 35 to allow an easy interconnectability between the frame 10 and the perforations of the guard basket (not shown). The frame 10 also has a surrounding lip surface 40 on the outer perimeter of the frame which allows for installation of the frame 10 on the surface of a building. To facilitate the securing of the frame 10 onto a building surface, apertures 50 are positioned within the lip surface 40. These apertures 50 allow for the use of screws or nails in order to secure the frame 10 onto a building surface.

With reference to FIGS. 2 a and 2 b and according to one embodiment of the present invention, a guard basket 60 is shown having internal ribs 70 and pivot members 80. The pivot members 80 operatively connect with the pivot slots (not shown) to form a hinge (not shown) and allow for the guard basket 60 to be in a raised or lowered position as further described below. The guard basket 60 also has alignment tabs 90 to provide further rigidity to the guard basket 60 and align it into position over the frame 10. The guard basket 60 also has a surrounding lip surface 100 to seal with frame 10 (not shown) of the Universal Pest Guard. A pull handle 120 is also present on the guard basket 60 in order to facilitate the raising or lowered of the guard basket 60 onto the frame 10 (not shown).

With reference to FIG. 3 and according to one embodiment of the present invention, the guard basket 60 is intended to be mounted over an existing exhaust vent cover. The sheet metal exhaust vent duct opening (not shown) will typically be covered by an exhaust vent cover (not shown), consisting of a vent housing (not shown) which is sealed to the side of the building by caulk (not shown). The vent housing (not shown) often contains a series of louvers (not shown) or a flapper (not shown), to permit air to flow out of the building through the vent (not shown), while preventing a back draft. The frame 10 of the pest guard cover fits over the existing exhaust vent cover (not shown) and louvers or flapper (not shown), and is attached through screw holes 100 by means of screws (not shown) or other means known to those skilled in the art. The frame 10 is not intended to replace the existing exhaust vent cover (not shown) and louvers or flapper (not shown), merely provide a pest guard over the existing cover to prevent the entry of insects, animals and leaves.

With reference to FIG. 3 and according to one embodiment of the present invention, the Universal pest guard has a frame 10 and a guard basket 60. The rain shield 15 projects approximately 2″ from the frame 10, and is gently downward-sloping towards the front of the guard basket 60. The guard basket 60 is secured to the frame 10 by inserting the pivot members 80 into the pivot slots 20. The pivot members can be easily snapped into positioned and the pivot slots 20 are designed for a snap fit. The pivot members 80 allow for the guard basket 60 to be raised and lowered for maintenance and cleaning of lint from the interior of the guard basket 60, but does not require that the guard basket 60 be detached to perform maintenance. The guard basket 60, may, however optionally be detached if this is desired. Accordingly, the guard basket 60 is able to pivot up and down on the pivot members 80 positioned within the pivot slots 20, and when in its lowest position, against the frame, may be snapped into place by pushing the guard basket 60 over a first latch 30 and a second latch 32, which project from the frame 10 and which latches 30 and 32 snap into place through a perforation within the internal ribs 70 in the guard basket 60, and lock the guard basket 60 to the frame 10 by means of angled flanges 35 on each of the latches 30 and 32. The angled flanges 35 may be released from the internal ribs 70, and the guard basket 60 freed to swing up, by bending latches 30 and 32 inward, effectively pushing the angled flanges 35 in through the internal ribs 70, all the while gently pulling on the guard basket 60. The pull handle 120 facilitates the movement of the guard basket 60 away from the frame 10 and latches 30 and 32. Also, if the guard basket 60 falls against the frame 10, the guard basket 60 will lock into place automatically as the latches 30 and 32 will be pushed inward by the force of the impact of the falling guard basket 60 on the angled flanges 35 wherein the flanges 35 will lock into place within the internal ribs 70.

With further reference to FIG. 3, the guard basket 60 is substantially a basket made of a grid-like plastic forming perforations, which basket shape allows the flapper or louvers of the exhaust vent (not shown) sufficient clearance to open and close and permit the air to flow out of the exhaust vent. The internal ribs 70 of the grid are small enough to prevent rodents, birds and large insects from entering the exhaust vent (not shown), yet are large enough for air to flow unimpeded out of the exhaust vent (not shown).

With reference to FIG. 4 and according to one embodiment of the present invention, the guard basket 60 is secured to the frame 10. As described under FIG. 3, the pivot members 80 allow for the guard basket 60 to rest on the frame and the flanges 35 interlock with the internal rib 70 of the guard basket 60 which secures the guard basket 60 onto the frame. By locking the guard basket 60 to the frame 10, a pest or rodent cannot pivot the guard basket 60 in order to enter into the vent (not shown). The pull handle 120 also rest on the frame 10 and apertures 50 allow for the frame to be secured onto a building (not shown).

With reference to FIG. 5 and according to one embodiment of the present invention, the pivot members 80 are inserted into the pivot slots 20 have a first pivot slot 22 and a second pivot slot 24 which receive the pivot members 80. The first and second pivot slots 22 and 24 allow for the pivot slot region to expand and the pivot members 80 can then snap into position on the frame 10. The first and second slots 22 and 24 are integral to and molded as part of the guard basket 60. The first and second slots 22 and 24 are positioned generally horizontal to the ground and in-line with the face of the guard basket 60 which will assure that the guard cover lip 100 to rest flush on the frame lip section.

One skilled in the art would appreciate that the pivot members and the material used to manufacture the frame which includes the pivot slots may be formed of another material, for instance a metal hinge affixed to the rain shield and guard, or the hinge may consist of flexible plastic which may be bent by the user, any of which could be substituted for the molded hinge described above, and still fall within the scope of the invention.

The pest guard cover is manufactured of molded plastic, however one skilled in the art would appreciate that it may be made of other materials as well and still fall within the scope of the invention. For instance, the components may easily be made of metal for a longer-lasting industrial-strength application.

Many modifications and other embodiments of the invention will come to the mind of a person skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing description and associated drawings. Therefore, it is understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiment disclosed, and that modifications and embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. 

1. A pest guard cover for an external wall vent, arranged to be mounted over an existing exhaust vent cover and vent louvers comprising: a rectangular frame; a rain shield projecting from the frame, in a downward-sloping inclination; a guard basket having a plurality of perforations forming a grid, providing sufficient clearance for the vent louvers to open; and a hinge between the rain shield and said guard basket so as to permit the guard basket to be pivoted between the frame and rain shield; wherein the frame is affixed over the exhaust vent cover, and the guard basket pivotally hangs from the rain shield by said hinge.
 2. The pest guard cover of claim 1, wherein said hinge further comprises one or more pivot members; and one or more pivot slots wherein the pivot members are inserted into the pivot slots so as to be capable of pivoting.
 3. The pest guard vent cover of claim 2, further comprising a first latch and a second latch projecting from the frame; and one or more perforations in said guard basket wherein said first and second latches with and releasably lock within said perforations.
 4. The pest guard cover of claim 1 wherein the guard basket has one or more alignment tabs.
 5. The pest guard cover of claim 1 wherein the guard basket has a pull handle.
 6. The pest guard cover of claim 1 wherein the rectangular frame has apertures to allow for the rectangular frame to be attached to a building. 